CSD 444 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What is a traumatic brain injury? - Answers - when an external physical force hits the
brain, producing an altered state of consciousness
What do TBIs result in? - Answers - impaired cognitive abilities and physical
functioning, sometimes disturbs behavioral or emotional function
What are the two ways external forces hurt the brain? - Answers - when a moving
object strikes the head or when the moving head strikes a stationary object
What is a penetrating head injury? - Answers - occurs when the skull is fractured and
the meninges is torn
What is a nonpenetrating head injury? - Answers - occurs if the skull and meninges
remain intact
What are open head injuries caused by? - Answers - high velocity objects that
perforate the skull and penetrate the brain substance
What happens when hair, skin, and bone fragments are carried into the brain by the
projectile? - Answers - they become sites for potential bacterial infections
For low velocity impacts, what kind of brain damage is typical? - Answers - focal brain
damage but just as dangerous risk of infection
When do low-velocity impacts cause penetrating injuries? - Answers - if the force is
concentrated in a small area
Mortality rates are high with what kind of injuries? - Answers - penetrating
Why are penetrating injuries to the brainstem usually fatal? - Answers - The brainstem
controls vital functions of breathing, heart rate, and temperature regulation.
What does focal mean? - Answers - one specific spot
What does diffuse mean? - Answers - across multiple structures
What are the two types of nonpenetrating brain injuries? - Answers - acceleration and
nonacceleration
What causes acceleration injuries? - Answers - when the unrestrained head is struck
by a moving object strikes a stationary object
What is another way acceleration injuries can happen? - Answers - when a rapidly
moving head abruptly changes direction without striking a surface
, What causes nonacceleration injuries? - Answers - restrained head is struck by
moving object
What is an acceleration brain trauma? - Answers - movement inside the skull resulting
from generated external forces
What are coup injuries? - Answers - bruises and abrasions to the surface of the brain
where it strikes the skull
When TBI is caused by ______, the brain receives indirect damage. - Answers -
acceleration
What are contre-coup injuries? - Answers - injury to the surface of the brain on the
opposite side from the blow
Why are coup and contre-coup injuries more likely to occur following blows to the front
or back of the head than to the side of the head? - Answers - There is more space
between the skull and brain in front and back than the sides.
What are rotational injuries? - Answers - occur from blows that strike the head off
center and propel it at an angle from the direction of the blow
What are axial structures? - Answers - midbrain, basal ganglia, brainstem, and
cerebellum
Where are twisting and shearing forces the greatest between? - Answers - boundaries
between gray and white matter
Rotational injuries cause more severe injuries than acceleration injuries. - Answers -
True
Where does bleeding and swelling tend to be more severe in rotational injuries? -
Answers - internal capsule, corpus callosum, and the brainstem
What are diffuse axonal injuries? - Answers - damage to axons diffusely scattered
throughout the brain substance
What are diffuse axonal injuries caused by? - Answers - Stretching, tearing, twisting,
shearing of brain tissue
What is a persistent vegetative state? - Answers - condition in which the patient has
sleep-wake cycles, but makes no purposeful action
What is persistent vegetative state a result of? - Answers - severe diffuse damage to
cortical and subcortical regions with relative preservation of brainstem
What is a traumatic brain injury? - Answers - when an external physical force hits the
brain, producing an altered state of consciousness
What do TBIs result in? - Answers - impaired cognitive abilities and physical
functioning, sometimes disturbs behavioral or emotional function
What are the two ways external forces hurt the brain? - Answers - when a moving
object strikes the head or when the moving head strikes a stationary object
What is a penetrating head injury? - Answers - occurs when the skull is fractured and
the meninges is torn
What is a nonpenetrating head injury? - Answers - occurs if the skull and meninges
remain intact
What are open head injuries caused by? - Answers - high velocity objects that
perforate the skull and penetrate the brain substance
What happens when hair, skin, and bone fragments are carried into the brain by the
projectile? - Answers - they become sites for potential bacterial infections
For low velocity impacts, what kind of brain damage is typical? - Answers - focal brain
damage but just as dangerous risk of infection
When do low-velocity impacts cause penetrating injuries? - Answers - if the force is
concentrated in a small area
Mortality rates are high with what kind of injuries? - Answers - penetrating
Why are penetrating injuries to the brainstem usually fatal? - Answers - The brainstem
controls vital functions of breathing, heart rate, and temperature regulation.
What does focal mean? - Answers - one specific spot
What does diffuse mean? - Answers - across multiple structures
What are the two types of nonpenetrating brain injuries? - Answers - acceleration and
nonacceleration
What causes acceleration injuries? - Answers - when the unrestrained head is struck
by a moving object strikes a stationary object
What is another way acceleration injuries can happen? - Answers - when a rapidly
moving head abruptly changes direction without striking a surface
, What causes nonacceleration injuries? - Answers - restrained head is struck by
moving object
What is an acceleration brain trauma? - Answers - movement inside the skull resulting
from generated external forces
What are coup injuries? - Answers - bruises and abrasions to the surface of the brain
where it strikes the skull
When TBI is caused by ______, the brain receives indirect damage. - Answers -
acceleration
What are contre-coup injuries? - Answers - injury to the surface of the brain on the
opposite side from the blow
Why are coup and contre-coup injuries more likely to occur following blows to the front
or back of the head than to the side of the head? - Answers - There is more space
between the skull and brain in front and back than the sides.
What are rotational injuries? - Answers - occur from blows that strike the head off
center and propel it at an angle from the direction of the blow
What are axial structures? - Answers - midbrain, basal ganglia, brainstem, and
cerebellum
Where are twisting and shearing forces the greatest between? - Answers - boundaries
between gray and white matter
Rotational injuries cause more severe injuries than acceleration injuries. - Answers -
True
Where does bleeding and swelling tend to be more severe in rotational injuries? -
Answers - internal capsule, corpus callosum, and the brainstem
What are diffuse axonal injuries? - Answers - damage to axons diffusely scattered
throughout the brain substance
What are diffuse axonal injuries caused by? - Answers - Stretching, tearing, twisting,
shearing of brain tissue
What is a persistent vegetative state? - Answers - condition in which the patient has
sleep-wake cycles, but makes no purposeful action
What is persistent vegetative state a result of? - Answers - severe diffuse damage to
cortical and subcortical regions with relative preservation of brainstem
